Background Check

This date went from "Getting to Know Each Other" to "Social Work Assessment"

I met Jacob (name changed for security reasons) at a local gym. He was an attractive guy, fit, healthy, and was very passionate about giving back to his community. We exchanged numbers and set up a date.

The date started off well. Jacob brought be to Legal Seafood, how can I resist. The flow of our conversation was going very well, the usual; trying to get to know each other. The conversation took a 180 once he informed me that he had been incarcerated twice. The date immediately became a social work assessment. I kept calmed at asked Jacob if he would mind telling me how he ended up locked up. I found out the following:

When he was younger, Jacob had gotten into a premeditated bar fight. Apparently the bouncer at the bar had orchestrated the event. Long stories short, Jacob retaliates, which lead to the bouncer being in a coma. Jacob was arrested, and charged with attempted murder, no biggy. Luckily the bouncer woke up from his coma, and the charges were dropped.

I calmly enjoyed the rest of my delicious scallops, and proceeded to ask him what happened the second time he was incarcerated.

Jacob didn't want explain what happen the second time he was locked-up, he claimed that he didn't want to seem like he was bragging (red flag #9). We switched the topic, and finished up our meals. As we walked back to our cars, this is where the date became scary.

Besides finding out Jacob was a criminal, I had enjoyed the date; just for the simple fact that I had practiced all of my social work interviewing skills. We were parked a couple blocks away, it was a cool summer night, and as we were walking to our cars (thank goodness I drove myself) Jacob brought up a TV show that he used to watch all of the time. The show was live footage of the craziest ways people have died. Jacob went on about his favorite episodes that he had watched. I was pretty weirded out, so I asked him... "Is there a reason why you like this show so much? Are you trying to tell me something?" He stopped walking, turned and faced me with a blank stare and said...

I'm a murderer.

Still to this day, I don't know how I managed to stay calm. I responded by asking him if that was the reason he was incarcerated a second time. He responded "yes." I proceeded to ask him why he wasn't still locked up, his response; "self-defense." I nodded my head and remained calm. At this point, mentally I was in panic mode. He didn't want to provide me with any further information, I didn't force the issue. Somehow I managed to switch the subject, thanked him for dinner, and made my way home.

Needless to say, I have not been in contact with Jacob since that day, nor have I returned to that gym.
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